Lead Footwear Developer
The Lead Footwear Developer will collaborate with product teams to shape the future of On's product line by translating footwear innovation into advanced products and creating future technologies that will define the brand. This role is responsible for leading the development of forward-thinking concepts within the R&D organization.
Your Mission
- Manage and execute the creation of innovative product concepts from conception to completion, overseeing technology development, sample creation and assembly, as well as the development of uppers, toolings, technologies, and molds.
- Lead multiple high-impact innovation projects with complete autonomy and ownership. Engage in strategic planning to align with company goals.
- Engage in complex problem-solving, tackling challenges related to product intricacies, process optimization, efficiency enhancement, model making, and enabling scalable manufacturing practices.
- Facilitate seamless communication and collaboration by acting as a bridge between designers, conceptual footwear innovators, model makers, pattern engineers, technology partners, and other stakeholders. Ensure scalability is carefully considered for every project.
- Work closely with the Sport Science, Innovation Design, Footwear Engineering, and Innovation Material Science teams to cultivate an environment of interdisciplinary collaboration and drive the development of innovative prototypes.
- Create and update the transfer manual by meticulously documenting processes, including key data, design images, and detailed product/process descriptions, ensuring it remains a comprehensive and user-friendly resource for successful technical knowledge transfer.
- Forge strong connections with our development teams in Asia, actively participating in successful information transfer strategies and fostering collaborative cross-border working relationships.
- Demonstrate expertise in fabricating and assembling materials and components, utilizing a diverse array of machinery and hand tools. This includes proficiency in cutting, injecting, sanding, buffing, sewing, welding, pressing, and lasting processes.
Your Story
- 5+ years of footwear-specific experience.
- Experience with footwear innovation projects.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or a relevant field preferred.
- 3+ years of experience in traditional footwear manufacturing processes such as injecting, cutting, sewing, welding, machining, laser cutting, construction, and prototyping.
- Ability to identify design issues and offer solutions to improve functionality and manufacturability of products.
- Demonstrated knowledge of material testing and methodology, comfortable working with chemistry/chemical processes for material creation, including textiles, foam polymers, solvents, chemicals, polyurethane, superfoams, EVA, and others.
- Proven ability to lead the scaling, costing, and testing of manufacturing processes and concepts while introducing new technologies to the market.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to adapt communication styles between engineers, designers, product experts, and cross-functional non-product creation partners.
- Ability to work independently under tight deadlines on multiple projects simultaneously, requiring both innovative ideas and engineering problem-solving.
- Exemplify a high tolerance for ambiguity and a solution-focused attitude.
- Comfortable working with industrial machinery.
- Availability to travel up to 15% of the time.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.